Busy Season

Issue: Hurricane Seasons Are Busier And Storms Are Growing Stronger.

Is it global warming? No one knows for sure, but there's mounting evidence that climate change may be contributing to more active and intense hurricane seasons.

This season, there have already been 12 named storms, two more than in an entire "normal" season. But "normal" may have to be redefined.

Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and noted hurricane expert William Gray predict a "hyperactive" season, with 20 or more named storms before it ends in November. Moreover, this season had more early-season storms than any other and is only the second time two major hurricanes had formed by the end of July. And then there's Katrina.

What's it all mean? Maybe nothing. After all, the two strongest hurricanes on record are the Labor Day storm of 1935 and 1969's Hurricane Camille, both of which formed before scientists detected signs of global warming. There are also natural climatological cycles that could account for much of the increased storm activity of recent years.

Still, according to a recent study, hurricanes have increased by about 50 percent in both intensity and duration since the 1970s, coinciding with higher ocean surface and atmospheric temperatures. It's foolish to discount that kind of data.

The United States has lagged behind other nations in developing a strategy to deal with climate change, partly because of skepticism about the phenomenon on the part of the Bush administration. But scientists warn that if we wait until there is irrefutable proof of global warming, it will be too late.

Ask the people of New Orleans whether we should wait any longer.

BOTTOM LINE: There may be other causes, but the United States needs a strategy to combat global warming.